Method of rendering pressurized bottle non-explosive

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a method of bottling pressurized liquid whereby the explosive potential of the capped bottle is eliminated comprising the steps of first filling a bottle to its neck with liquid, then introducing an expandable material in the neck of the bottle to partially occupy the space within said neck, then capping the bottle and finally permitting the said material to expand to completely fill the air space within the neck of the bottle.

llnited States Patent [191 Palomo May 14, 11974 METHOD OF RENDERING PRESSURIZED BOTTLE NON-EXPLOSIVE [76] Inventor: Manuel W. Palomo, 2530 Thorn Lodge Dr., Mississauga, Ontario, Canada [22] Filed: June 14, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 262,692

52 user 53/37, 53/14, 206/07, 215/52 [51] int. Cl B65b 1/04, B65b 3/04 [58] Field of Search 53/14, 37, 36; 206/46 FC, 206/07; 220/88 R; 215/52, 47, 81

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,122,284 2/1964 Miles 206/O.7 X 3,343,701 9/1967 Mahoney 215/52 1,011,988 12/1911 Moellel' 206/O.7 X

3,659,395 5/1972 Morane et a1. 53/36 3,503,177 3/1970 Kropscott et a1. 206/46 FC X 2,880,900 4/1959 Foye 215/81 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 173,506 4/1922 Great Britain .1 206/07 Primary Examiner-Willie G. Abercrombie Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Howard Myles Schwinger ABSTRACT This invention relates to a method of bottling pressurized liquid whereby the explosive potential of the capped bottle is eliminated comprising the steps of first filling a bottle to its neck with liquid, then introducing an expandable material in the neck of the bottle to partially occupy the space within said neck, then capping the bottle and finally permitting the said material to expand to completely fill the air space within the neck of the bottle.

1 Claim, 4 Drawing Figures PATENIEDMY l4 I974 FIG.3

FlG.4

FIG.2

1 METHOD OF RENDERING PRESSURIZED BOTTLE NON-EXPLOSIVE This invention relates to bottle capping and more particularly, to a method for the capping of bottles containing pressurized liquid.

An inherent danger in the use of pressurized bottle, bottles for the distribution of carbonated soda for example, is the possibility of violent explosion with accompanying serious personal injuries. The failure of such bottles generally occurs in two stages.

First, the container is initially abused by excessive impact forces, i.e., it is dropped or struck, or it is subjected to a high thermal stress in being transferred from a hot environment to a cold environment.

Thereafter, if there is a sudden expansion of gas, carbon dioxide for example, in the neck of the bottle, the weakened bottle may blow apart violently projecting harmful glass fragments over the area.

If the pressure build up in the neck of the bottle could be eliminated, the bottle, although still readily breakable, would be rendered non-explosive.

It is therefore amongst the primary objects of the present invention to provide a method of capping a bottle so as to render it non-explosive while not requiring a major change in the bottle itself or in capping procedures.

This is accomplished by closing off the neck of the bottle to the pressurized gas carried by the liquid, as described in the following description and shown in the accompanying drawing.

THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a filled bottle, partly' broken away at the neck, showing the expandable plug of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a view of the upper portion of the bottle of FIG. 1 being subjected to heat;

FIG. 3 is a similar view of the bottle of FIG. 2 after expansion of the plug;

FIG. 4 is a similar view of another bottle showing how a granular heat expandable substance may be introduced into the neck of the bottle prior to capping.

DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION Air space the in neck 12 of bottle 14 is closed off to the pressurized liquid 16 carried by the bottle by inserting plug 18 within the neck prior to capping.

It is most important that plug 18 is composed of a heat or otherwise expandable material because as can be seen in FIG. 1, the plug does not completely fill air space 10, making the introduction of the plug into the air space quite simple.

After the plug has been introduced into the neck of the bottle, the bottle is capped in the conventional manner, and heat from heat energy source 20 is applied to the neck of the bottle, as shown in FIG. 2, to cause plug 18 to completely fill air space 10 by expansion. By so doing, the head space is completely closed off to the pressurized liquid and all-possibility of a pressure build up in the air space is eliminated. The pressurized gas must remain in solution in the liquid.

Plug 18 should be buoyant so as not to sink in the liquid, inert so as not to contaminate or change the char acteristics of the liquid in any way and should not bond with the bottle so that it can be readily removed.

It is preferable that the plug beexpanded at relatively low temperatures and be flexible so that it will compress slightly when the liquid carried by the bottle is caused to expand due to temperature change.

The plug material may be colored to enhance heat absorption in the infra-red or microwave range which the glass will transmit with negligible absorption'to reduce the possibility of thermal shock to the glass.

The plug material should generate pressure during expansion sufficient to insure that all gas in the air space will be displaced and forced into solution.

It must be understood that the heat expandable material doesnot necessarily have to be in the form of a solid plug. It may be granular or even in liquid form. FIG. 4 illustrates the loading of the neck of bottle 14 with a granular substance 24 by means of filling tube 22. The same method may be employed to introduce a liquid substance into the head space.

Although a great many heat expandable materials may be employed in this connection, certain foams and resins seem to be ideally suited. Among these are expanded polystyrene, polyurethanes, polyvinylchloride, polyethylene, cellular cellulose acetateand polypropylene.

If a liquid is employed to fill the head space, it is of great advantage that the liquid be susceptible of exothermic expansion. With such a liquid system the need and expense of an external heat source is eliminated. In such case a single or multi component resin catalyst may be employed. 7

I claim:

1. A method of bottling carbonated beverages comprising filling a bottle to its neck with a carbonated beverage, leaving the neck of the bottle empty; introducing a heat expandable gas retardent substance in the neck of the bottle to only partially occupy the space within said neck; capping the bottle; expanding the expandable substance by heat until it completely fills the air space within the neck to block off the neck of the bottle from gas from the carbonated beverage. 

1. A method of bottling carbonated beverages comprising filling a bottle to its neck with a carbonated beverage, leaving the neck of the bottle empty; introducing a heat expandable gas retardent substance in the neck of the bottle to only partially occupy the space within said neck; capping the bottle; expanding the expandable substance by heat until it completely fills the air space within the neck to block off the neck of the bottle from gas from the carbonated beverage. 